The Department of Defense identified the victim as Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas Checque, 28, of Monroeville, and said he was assigned to "an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit."

An anonymous Pentagon official told The Associated Press that the fallen service member was a part of SEAL Team Six, the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden, but did not know if he was involved in the bin Laden operation last year.

Checque had been living in Virginia Beach, according to a report by WAVY in Virginia, but he was a graduate of Norwin High School in North Huntingdon, Westmoreland County, where he was an honors student and member of the wresting team.

"He was hardheaded in a good way. He would never let an inch go, always took everything given to him and worked hard for everything in life," said wrestling teammate Michael Choby.

Former Physics teacher Doug Knipple said Checque was moved by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"He was very upset that his country had been attacked, and he was determined to defend his family, his friends and his country," said Knipple.

Checque's former wrestling coach, Rich Ginther, said he would never forget him.

"You remember certain things about athletes through the years, and that's something pretty special. Here we are, 10 years later, and he's done a lot for this country. He wasn't the most talented, or the strongest, but he had a lot of heart," Ginther said. "I remember state champs and qualifiers, but this is one I'll never forget."

Assistant coach Larry Hohman said he remembered Checque's desire and drive, even as a teen, to become a Navy SEAL.

"He said, 'I know I might not get in the lineup or do anything on the mat, but I know this will prepare me to get on the SEAL team," Hohman said.

Former teammate and current Norwin wrestling coach Todd Schuchert said Checque will serve as an inspiration to the school's young wrestlers.

"The things we do here seem so important, but whenever you take a step back and look at the grand scheme of things, what he's doing and what he did were really quite remarkable," said Schuchert.

Checque received many honors during his military career, including the Navy Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star.

Military officials said the abductee -- Dr. Dilip Joseph, of Colorado Springs, Colo. -- was rescued early Sunday in eastern Afghanistan after intelligence showed he was in imminent danger of injury or possible death.

Joseph, the adviser for Colorado Springs-based relief group Morning Star Development, was abducted Wednesday with two other aid workers in eastern Kabul province.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta released this statement:

"I want to commend the U.S Special Operations team who rescued an American citizen captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan. I was deeply saddened to learn that a U.S. service member was killed in the operation, and I also want to extend my condolences to his family, teammates and friends. The special operators who conducted this raid knew they were putting their lives on the line to free a fellow American from the enemy's grip. They put the safety of another American ahead of their own, as so many of our brave warriors do every day and every night. In this fallen hero, and all of our special operators, Americans see the highest ideals of citizenship, sacrifice and service upheld. The torch of freedom burns brighter because of them."

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SEAL game demonstration

U.S. Sailors assigned to SEAL Team 18 surround the pitcher's mound during demonstration before the start of a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 11, 2010.